Symptoms: sharp, stabbing pain on one side of the chest, aggravated by deep breathing, coughing or moving the torso, shortness of breath (to avoid pain); sometimes pain in the shoulder, front of the chest or in the back, dry cough or fever

Symptoms: pain after eating on the right or left side below the ribs or in the lower chest and in the shoulder tip (referred pain due to the irritation of the diaphragm), tenderness below the lower ribs and upper abdominal distension (bloating)

Reference: (19)

Side Stitch

Symptoms: exercise-related, transient, moderate or severe, cramp-like or stabbing pain below the rib cage, more commonly on the right side and, sometimes, in the shoulder tip on the same side; pain is relieved within a minute of rest (11).

Stones in the ureter can cause constant or intermittent sharp pain in the right or left flank lasting for 20 minutes to several hours; pain can be extreme and can radiate into lower abdomen and groin; you may occasionally pass blood or a stone, but you typically have no fever (16).

Certain kidney conditions (infection, inflammation) can present with mild pain that can be made worse by slightly tapping over a kidney with a fist. Other symptoms may include nausea, fever, frequent urinationandcloudy urine. In some kidney disorders, pain can be triggered by drinking large amounts of fluid, or severe dehydration.

Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis is an inflammation of pouches that form in the large intestine.

Symptoms: constant pain and tenderness in the lower left abdomen, fever, nausea, constipation or diarrhea, occasional blood in the stool (14)

Acute Appendicitis

Symptoms: vague, constant pain around the belly button, which within few hours moves to the lower right abdomen, becomes severe and is aggravated by moving and coughing; other common symptoms: nausea, vomiting, fever

Signs:

Tenderness in the lower right abdominal quadrant

Rebound tenderness: applying pressure upon the left lower abdomen and quickly releasing it triggers pain in the right lower abdomen.

Reference: (21)

Lower Side Abdominal Pain in WOMEN

Ovary Pain

Ovulation pain occurs in the middle of the menstrual cycle (about 14 days before period) on the inside of the hip on either side, it can be severe and can last from few minutes to 48 hours (15); if it lasts longer, it could be associated with endometriosis or other disorder.

Okay I’m about 15 weeks pregnant. this would be my third child. With my first one I got blood clots . So I have been getting pains in my right side under my ribs but in my back where someone can push on where it hurts and I don’t have a problem . But if I move or try to climb in bed it makes me cry out in pain. Went to the hospital X-ray was fine ultersound of my right leg was fine . But they put me on blood thinners because they worried that I have a blood clot but they can’t find it they check my lungs and liver and kidneys and gallbladder. I had my appendix out when I was 5 months with my second child. So all that happened a on April 3 it’s not April 22 and the pain is back same place til tonight where it has not moved below my armpit and shoots pain to the middle of my chest and I went to the hospital today and the doctor told me it’s a pull muscle. All I know is it does not feel like no pulled muscle at all . also I have been having shortness or breathe since April 3 since I was at the hospital the first time . Has anyone else been throw this . I’m starting to get really worried . And temp today was 100 which is barley a fever .

About 5 or 6 years ago i would notice something under my left lower rib cage and it would feel like it would pop out from under ribs and randomly go away. I’ve had an X-ray but nothing showed. It now feels larger and possibly oblong if that makes sense and fully aware of it all day…when i twist or tip toe and turn suddenly it will stop me in my tracks until i relax for a sec then the dull but deep pressure stops. I’ve always suffered with severe cobstipatuon. Had colonoscopy done and came back fine. Scope down throat into stomach and after the 12 hr fasting prior to procedure, undigested food still in stomach. Gastro had an ultrasound machine in officevanf after looking he said what he thoughtvto Be a large cyst on ovaries and wouldn’t see me anymore that needed to see OB. OB said it was minimal and normal. Saying this incase it’s related to what’s under my rib cage. Always underweight until around 4 years ago i went from 110 to 160 within a year and struggle to now stay under 170. I workout 6 days a week intensively. Never had acne, like not even during puberty…but around same time 5 or 6 years ago its came and is constant battle. My weight gain starts under my sternum to my belly button area. Always bloated full feeling. So drastic that i eventually had liposuction on abdomen and lower back 15 months ago and it is all back as it was prior to procedure. Also have bouts of fluid retention that may come for 3-4 days and ankles get bigger than my calf…then goes away and could be months before happens again. Only thing consistent with all of this is this thing under my left rib cage so I’m worried that whatever it is could be the cause of these sudden body changes in past 5 years. Please help with guidance ask to what to do. I’m not dying I’m not depresssed . I still maintain my day to day life. I would just like to go back to feeling like me and to stop wasting money trying to fix it. Ty!! . Oh i am a female …age 37

Trapped gas can cause pain on the left side below the rib cage and can be associated with bloating and constipation. Common cause is stress and inappropriate diet. A low-FODMAP diet may help (search online).

Ankle swelling can be from a heart or kidney disease, for example. It can help if a doctor sees your legs when they are swollen. I strongly suggest you to get this checked soon.

My mom is experiencing pain in the middle of her right side that runs to her right breast, at first it was when she would stretch to put on her seat belt, but now she gets it at any time, it only lasts for 30 secs or so. What could that be?

Pain on the side of the chest that is triggered by movements most commonly originates from the muscles. Was she lifting something heavy recently or repeatedly using arms? Another common cause is pleurisy.

I have had a sharp pain at the bottom of my ribcage off to the side on the left. I only notice it when I take deep breaths, hiccup, or sneeze. I haven’t noticed any tenderness or inability to sleep in any position. I have been experiencing this pain for several days now. I can’t recall any event that would of caused muscle strain or damage but that doesn’t mean that there wasn’t. I am a very active 35 year old male. My bowl movements are regular, no fevers, sickness, or any other symptoms.

Few possible causes of the pain at the bottom of the rib cage on the left that do not change with the body position:
– trapped wind
– pleurisy
– a spleen disorder

In muscle strain, the pain would be aggravated by touch or body movements.

After running, especially sprinting, boxing, lifting heavy objects or any activity that involves repeated backward and forward movements of the arms, you can have myofascial pain in the serratus anterior muscle, which would be aggravated by deep breathing.

I’ve had a sharp pain to my left rib cage below my breast bone that radiated to my left shoulder. Hard to sleep with pain at night, I can’t sleep on my right side the pain get very severe that it’s hard to move or breath. Pain also severe with deep breaths, sneezing, or coughing. Started a few days ago. Sometimes seems like it is getting better then it comes back. Should I go to the doctor.

In 2011, I had a severe clavical joint infection. When my chest was Xrayed, to try to find out why I was in so much pain, the acute care clinic and then the hospital both saw a mass on the lower outside area of my left lung. They could not do anything about it at the time, because of the severity of the clavical joint infection. I had a central line in me, and I was on a pump with vancomycin for a month. About four months later, I got another Xray. This time no mass was seen. I was supposed to go back for another Xray three months later, but never did that. I have been getting sharp pains in that same area, where they had previously seen a mass. The pain is below my left rib cage and above my left pelvic bone, around my waist area. It has increased in frequency from once in awhile to just about a constant sharp pain, that occurs when I move in a certain way. I’m going to a new doctor on Friday, Sept. 1, because I had moved.

For a little over three weeks now; I can pin point the date; as for I have it written down. I moved furniture. I was using proper body mechanics and I had assistance. (pushing/pulling..no lifting) I have severe sharp shooting pains under my left rib cage that radiates thru to my back. If I lie down; I can’t lie down on the right side; as it feels like my rib cage is crushing body parts on the right side. If like I lie on my back; I generally have to have my left arm underneath me for some form of support. I can lay down on my left side with minimal amount of pain. I finally sucked it up and went to the local urgent care, who couldn’t pin point anything specific. They did xrays; which resulted in nothing. I have no fever, but my day to day functions are now limited to how well I can deal with the pain. I want to say it is muscle issues; however after 3 1/2 weeks; it is just as bad today as it was when it first started. I was given Baclofen to help relax the muscles; but it hasn’t helped. Any idea as to what it might be? ps…I no longer have my gall bladder.

I assume that the doctor said there is no broken ribs. Did the doctor also say there is no spontaneous pneumothorax? This can be seen on X-ray but it may be missed if looked just quickly. Spontaneous pneumothorax would cause an obvious pain during breathing.

Repeated pushing and pulling can result in serratus anterior muscle pain. It is myofascial pain in the big flat muscle that connects the side of the ribs with the lower border of the shoulder blade. Changing the body position, moving an arm, deep inhalation and coughing can trigger pain. I think that such pain should improve in several days…It would be possible that you have a more severe injury of this muscle, such as partial muscle tear. You could also have a damage of the long thoracic nerve, which supplies this muscle. In this case, you would have winging scapula – a scapula that protrudes out more than the other one when you lean to the wall with the extended arms.

If the pain persists, I suggest you ask for a referral to an orthopedist.

I have had since Tuesday June27th what I thought was the flu. Migraine and hurt everywhere (I have RA) with a fever that peaked at 103.8 and the pain was so intense I had to take ibuprofen to bust it.yesterday I woke up with a migraine again and then I noticed that the all over body pain morphed into my left upper rib. That is also still present today. Only now the pain has wrapped itself to my spine and now creeping in the right side as well. I fear it is pneumonia, I am going to the er today because of my whole body is aching again the pain has increased by coughing and I have that as well. Started vomiting yesterday. My breathing is more shallow and my heart rate is up and Ok seems like it dropped. 95% I have a pulsox monitor. I have missed placed my BP machine. But I can tell my breathing seems slightly labored. I also have pulmonic stenosis.

I have severe side pain that comes and goes. The pain is in the right flank, right at the natural waist. Used to feel like a stabbing pain, now more like a metal spider trying to escape. The pain is always severe and comes quickly.

I have 2 kidney stones, but neither is in the ureters (both are buried in the ‘meat’ of the kidney), both stones are less than 2mm. I have recently been told it is not caused by stones.

Movement aggravates it and when I sit still for longer than 30 min it usually fades. The pain is daily. It is strong enough to affect my job and my daily life.

There is no fever or other indication of an internal infection. No STDs either. No chronic diseases. No medication. No known injuries. Stress levels are really high and have been for the duration of the pain. No surgeries. No previous pregnancies. No current pregnancies (currently menstrating).

The pain has come and gone for 5 months. Early on their was a bit of left side pain.

Pain aggravated by movements (and touch?) is more likely from the abdominal wall than from internal organs but I can’t exclude anything. It could still be a kidney stone…A muscle cramp in the abdominal wall, possibly caused by stress, could also cause such pain.

Hi I have a sharp stabbing pain in the middle of my back by the spine of the left side when i move wrong it shoots into my arms and takes my breath away if i breath to deep i can feel it as well i cant hardly bend or twist and it’s been giving me headaches. I asked my husband to take a look and his says there is a bruise by my spine, he’s tried to rub near it and it felt like someone stab me and it took about 30 secs to fade away. I am 24 and I have fibromyalgia as well

I had a bad fall from upright straight down onto my left side on floor tiles down the stairs. I was in so much pain I visited the hospital. Xrays were done and no brocken ribs. 3 months later I’m still having pain under my ribs. If I eat I feel it more. If I lean to the left it hurts, not sharp pain but aware of it.
Should l go back to the hospital as rather concerned
Annie

Good day , whenever I eat late at night or heavy , I do experience sharp pain on the left and right side of my stomach/abdomen,especially when sleeping at night. The pain disappears some minutes after I have woken up ..

I’ve been in chronic pain for over 1 year and 2 months, always the same amount of pain, and it never goes away. It is located on my RIGHT side only, on the back side, right at rib/ waistline area.
I’ve been to a general practitioner, done a ct scan and mri, blood exams, and all shows normal. I did take an anti -inflammatory for 1 week (with no success). Advil also doesn’t help.
Usually I feel the pain only when I twist my upper body to the right side or when I lay on my right side while sleeping (the pain usually wake me up at night).

Just as a medical background: I have a very minor central disk protrusion at l4-l5 that is superimposed on a mild diffuse degenerative disk bulge ( I’ve had this problem for many years and never caused the “strange” side pain, so I am not sure if it would be connected.

Can anyone help? Have you had anything similar? What kind of specialist should I go to?
Thank you 🙂

The pain that is closer to the ribs than to the pelvis is less likely from L4-L5 disc. If degeneration was found only in the L4-L5 disc so far, it is less likely that degeneration would spontaneously develop in the higher lumbar discs (L1-L3) or in the thoracic discs.

The pain triggered by twisting the torso most likely originates from the muscles or the spine and less likely from the internal organs. An orthopedist deals with such pain.

Been having problems for about 3 yrs with my right side of the middle of my back and ribs when I do manual labor and if I been standing up to long. It also makes it worse if I eat first and then do manual labor. It only subsides if I sit down. Once I get back up and start working again after a little while it starts hurting again. It’s like a stabbing pain that gets worse and worser. I do have acid reflux. Don’t know if that has anything to do with it. I also lift weights don’t know if that has anything to do with it. Doesn’t bother me when I lift weights though.

I have been having left lower side pain like in my lower side between ribs and hip it’s a constant stabeing pain hurts to cough bend over move in don the have health
Insurance so I try to avoid hospitals and doctor offices any ideas

I am a 56 yr old female i fell on my left side a couple of mons ago holding my 14 mon old grandbaby & since have had one problem after the other on my left side ive been to my dr twice had elbow & shoulder xrayed nothing broke but told theres alot of inflammation so been taking inflammation meds but now seems that shoulder is better but real tender to touch even painful for my left arm to be against top part of my side just down below armpit hurts to touch or lay on left side

Has a broken rib been excluded? A doctor (orthopedist) can tell more after a physical examination, for example, if there is a winging scapula, which would suggest an injury of the long thoracic nerve. One possible cause of pain would be a stretched serratus anterior or other muscle, in which case limiting using your left arm, especially lifting anything heavy, could help in a couple of weeks.

I have pain under my left arm, down my left arm, left arm swollen, mass in crease of elbow, pain in left rib area down to my waist. I’m extremely fatigued all the time. It all started with a mass in my left breast and under my left arm. I’ve had 2 mammograms and 2 ultra sounds. Both negative. The masses in the breast have diminished, but the left arm and ribs is getting worse. My doctor has no idea what it is and is sending me to pain management and I don’t know what else to do. I need to find an answer, I do not need referral for insurance but I don’t know what type of doctor to go to for this.

Was any doctor able to physically detect the masses in the breast, armpit or elbow? The swelling in an arm accompanied with a mass in the elbow and armpit suggest enlarged lymph nodes, which can be caused by an infection or cancer. Lymph nodes that are swollen due to cancer are usually not painful, though.

You can ask a doctor (infectologist) for blood tests for cat scratch disease (after a cat scratch), tularemia (after a rabbit bite) and other relevant infections or other causes of enlarged lymph nodes, such as sarcoidosis, etc.

Hi I’m curious, I have severe sharp pains under my left arm, and over my left breast. If I press on the spots they feel sore but I haven’t pulled anything. I have severe GERD and a Hiatal Hernia that sits at the top of my abdomen. Is it normal to feel those sharp pains with those issues?

Hi I’m curious, I have severe sharp pains under my left arm, and over my left breast. If I press on the spots they feel sore but I haven’t pulled anything. I have severe GERD and a “small” Hiatal Hernia that sits at the top of my abdomen . I don’t have a gallbladder,had that out three years ago . The ribs do hurt while I lay on my left side and stomach also . Would taking a ginger or apple cider supplement help with this ,or Is it normal to feel these pains with those issues?

Fractured my eighth and ninth right side ribs, just from a simple fall and hit the back and broke them. It has been two weeks now and I am getting a stabbing pain on the left side between my spine and shoulder blade feels unbearable. It is a doll ache about the size of a Silverdollar and gets worse when laying on my back. Also feeling very nauseous, and threw up just clear fbile this morning

My side pain started about ten days ago. I can reach it with a long vibrator made for the back. It’s extremely painful to the touch but I’m hoping that disturbing it will calm it down. The pain is on my flank, on my left side, about six inches down from my armpit. The pain is not constant but is excruciating. It feels like skeletal muscular problems but I did not injure myself. I also have knots or cysts or nodules in my stomach area, about 8 inches down and to the left. In reflecting I’d say they feel like when I had shingles a few years ago but I have no rash. Just a lot of pain, sensitivity to touch, itching, and a feeling of tightness around my feet. Emailed my pcp and waiting for a reply from her. In the meantime, any thoughts,

Other than that, there’s one flat muscle called serratus anterior in that area. The overuse of the muscle due to hyperventilation, arm swinging during running or repetitive lifting of heavy objects can cause severe pain, which is triggered by the movements of the arms or trunk.

The spleen is also about there, but spleen pain is usually not associated with such tenderness to touch.

The knots and nodules are on the surface or within the abdominal cavity?

I have an acute pain middle left of my back. Suffered from a virus recently and recovered only to get it back Now have a chesty, tickly cough with this awful pain. feeling exhausted and have a mild fever…. Any ideas?

Hello I have a sharp stabbing pain under the rib cage (left) side. It happened some times. And when it happens it radiates up wards but takes few seconds. And I am really worried if it is a serious health matter. Any idea will help.

Have a strange one. I have ovarian and peritoneal cysts, due for appointment to discuss further action next week. But last night, I noticed a dull ache on my left side, right at the bottom of my rib cage. When I rubbed it, I realized there was a lump under my skin about the size of a small orange. It’s not extremely painful, like I said a dull ache that gets a little worse if touched, or if I cough. Ideas? I did call the gynecologist’s office and report it, but am trying to wait it out until my appointment next week.

Mine sounds like the surratus anterior pain syndrom. Luckily there is a diagram of exactly where the pain should be. That’s exactly where I’m sore but the pain is increasing. And when I breath in deep it aggravates the pain. It feels like a steady side cramp. ?

I get pain on both an left side between the arm pit and waist and its severe these articles here need to be more clearer on what to do about it ….and tell us exactly what it could be frim i feel like i have to play guessing games……thank you for your consideration im not criticizing but it would help us to make it ckearer …

Dar. belona, I would need more info, like, are you a man or woman, how old are you, is your pain affected by moving, how long does it last, is the painful area tender to touch, do you think it’s related to some physical activity and do you have any chronic disease?

I have extreme pain on my right side.when I lie on my right side it literally take my breath away to the point I have to switch sides…Been too many doctors no one van figure out the problem…Please help the pain goes all the way to my hip bone

Patricia, there’s a long thoracic nerve that runs from the armpit vertically down by side of the body. A hit on the side of your body or excessive exercise that involve swinging the arms might be the cause. You may want to see your doctor.

I’ve been in chronic pain for over two weeks in the left side of my back from the middle to the lower part and sometimes round to the front. It feels like a pulled muscle. I’ve had congestion with a odd dry cough which kept making me wretch with green phlegm coming up in lumps. My chest and lungs are clear. I’ve been to my doctors, primary care twice and also to my heart failure nurse. My diagnosis is severe muscle spasms. I’m worried it’s something more sinister? I have never felt pain like it. I can’t shout, even when I scream out in pain and cry, cough or breathe it hurts. It’s worse than when I fractured my knee or gave birth! Pure agony

I really need help with this ive got a pain next to my right uper ribs the skin feels dead as well sometimes when i couth it hurts more even when i bend over or if i lay on my side.
Kind greatings simon

I am very sorry to bother any of you with my problems, but both me and my father suffer from the same problem (Inheritance?) that we both do not understand. We have gone to the doctor’s about our random pain and cramps (stabbing pain, Burning/Searing pain) in both our Rib’s usually around the 4-7th rib. As I read this article, most of what could come close, didn’t even make sense because some of it didn’t even exist, wasn’t a symptom, or was just too much. I thought that this would be the right place to ask about this, to see if you have any generalized ideas about this problem.

Tintaglia, by fake ribs you mean the ribs 8-10? I would need to know exact pain location (near the sternum, at the side, which side, one or both sides?), pain triggers (applying pressure, moving, breathing), how old are you, when did this start and what investigations did you have so far and what were the results.

Margarita, to help a doctor to find the cause of pain, you need to tell him exact pain location, does it spread anywhere, is it tender to touch, is it affected by breathing, moving or lying down, when did the pain start and do you have any nausea or other related symptom.

I have a hard time breathing properly if I’m bent to my right side and worsens when I lean all the way to my right and pain in that area becomes a factor. I’m able to catch a full breath when I lean towards my left side. Any clue as to why this happens or what it means?

Saugata, it sounds like the bowel content moving. If you have eaten something wrong, it should go away in few days. Intestinal parasites can couse troubles lasting for months, though. If it is a repeating issue, you may want to think if you are intolerant to lactose, fructose or some specific food.

I keep getting bad pain in the middle of my id cage., it keeps me up all night, i already take pain meds for a back surgery, and they don’t stop the pain.. I had a cat scan. but nothing showed up.i don’t know what to do next.

I’ve had the same experience as Sarah. Been to the ER, treated like a crazy old woman, given pain meds and anti-angiety drugs that don’t help. Pain starts on left side near kidney, radiates up my side, into my left chest and shoulder. I cannot lay down, the pain gets so intense. I don’t know what to do!!

Sandi, to expect a reasonable response, you need to mention when the pain started, is it constant, does it change with body movements, what are other triggers or relievers, does it radiate to an arm…any other symptoms or underlying diseases…are you physically active…?

Ello 🙂 I went to the ER like a month ago, I had a miscarriage that went on for over 40 days. The same day that the bleeding stopped I was having what felt like contractions still. For days I couldn’t get out of bed (the pain was so strong that I physically couldn’t move my body) I felt like calling the ambulance, but I wanted my husband to take me to the ER when he got back from being out to sea. We went which was a week later and they mentioned something about fluid under my lungs and something else about one of my lungs… After that I saw my primary care provider and he said I was fine and that I just had a virus…. So, now a month later I’m starting to have the same pain from my “virus”… Last time I at least had a cold so it made sense, I’m not sick at all right now, are there any thoughts on what it could possibly be? I know virus’ never go away, but why would it trigger now when I’m not even sick? Thank you for your time 🙂

Larissa, a virus can cause viral or atypical pneumonia, but it seems that was just a doctor’s hypothesis. To confirm that you would need to have some tests. “The fluid under your lungs” can result from a viral or other infection, from disorders of the lymphatic vessels, heart disorders and cancer. The fluid is usually associated with an inflammation of the lung membrane (pleurisy), which can cause pain on the side, back or in the front of the chest and is aggravated by deep breathing. If you don’t get better soon I strongly recommend you to visit a doctor and insist to get an actual test-confirmed diagnosis.

Ive been to ER, cannot get help, pain on right side middle area so severe, say I have 2 small ovarian cysts on right, 1 larger on left one, but that my pain up to high and cysts on right small, to be the pain cause, help I’m in pure agony!!!!

Hello I’m looking for actual help I’ve been to er many times and doctors of all sorts for a very young age till now and have yet to figure out how to get the pain to go away I have several very small cyst’s on my left ovary (since around the age of 7 is when the pain started) I’ve been given norcos oxys (also started at age 7) things like that for temporary relief but as time passes it gets worse and worse I’ve been told that it will correct itself I’m now 23 years old and it’s becoming unbearable especially during my menstraul cycle Doctors refuse to pay any attention to what I have to say I’m told “im to young to understand what pain really is and I’m making it worse than it is” or my favorite ” oh hunny it’s supposed to hurt while you bleed it’s cramps get over it” I’ve had 3 children 2 of which were delivered all natural so I do understand what pain is and I can live with everyday pain but I need any kind of advice here a home remedy of a doctor from Rockford that is recommended any thing at all that might help get me to where I can pick my baby up or chase my toddler anything that will give me the opportunity to be there for my children please I’m begging for help

Ashley, it’s not likely I’ll solve your problem, but it can help you search further if you know:
– Your exact diagnosis? (PCOS?)
– Any other abnormality detected by any investigation at any time?
– Where exactly is the pain?